Becoming a traveller isn’t easy. Just like any other hobby or profession, expertise comes with experience and one has to polish the skills over years. Some travellers have a natural talent whereas some work hard towards developing it. Some learn by making mistakes. But those of us who have made these mistakes know that most of the times these mistakes are very expensive. I mean literally. For example, choosing a hotel at an impractical location may result in you spending a lot of money in cab fares. Or shopping without research may result in you paying much more than the item is worth. And when we make such mistakes, we wish that we had known better. All experienced travellers have their own set of tips to make the most of a trip. And at Ghumakkar, we have no dearth of experience when it comes to travelling. Here are some lessons that I have learnt during my career as a traveller.
Do some research
Find out as much about a place as you can. Go beyond the standard ‘places to visit’ pages and Wikipedia. Read travelogues by people who have recently been to the place. If needed, ask them questions. Gather as many details as possible. Knowledge about common attire, customs, and mannerisms can be very useful especially if you are travelling to a foreign land. Research ensures that you won’t miss out on specialities of a place and be at a lower risk to be conned into paying more than necessary.
Travel without Prejudice
This is the best way to truly experience a place. Form your opinions once you’ve been to a place but avoid doing so before you reach there. Who can understand this better than Indians? Our country has long been seen as the land of snake-charmers and spiritual Guru. As a result, foreign tourists often come to India expecting to experience some aspect of spirituality at every corner. And yes, they do find it. But India has so much more to offer than this. So be open-minded and approach a place with the curiosity of a child.
wow vibha i m become your fan . i like your words and update
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